The Lateness of the Hour

This has been a looonnnnggg-ass week at work. Not only was it the first full work week after the holidays, but I had to work late twice and through lunch three times in order to meet some deadlines. On Wednesday I got home at 9:30, which was after Keeley's bedtime, so that was the first day in her life that Daddy didn't see her while she was awake. (Because of our wonderful L.A. traffic, I have to leave for work before she gets up.) I did look in on her while she slept, though, so the day wasn't a complete loss.

I realize there a lot of dads (and moms) out there who, because of work demands, frequently don't see their kids during the waking hours. I wonder if it bothers them as much as it bothers me?

I hate having to stay late at work. With a passion. Being a salaried employee, I don't get paid extra for working OT, although we do get comp time. I still hate it. I've never understood why it's considered normal for 'white-collar workers' to work OT when their counterparts in the service or 'blue-collar' industries regularly clock out at the end of their shifts.

Most of my immediate co-workers have no problem with working late. This is mainly because they're younger and single, or at least sans children. I was the same way 15-20 years ago. Like them, I had no domestic commitments. Like them, I had plenty of disposable income to be spent on eating out, drinking, or the latest and greatest toys. Like them, work was a social outlet, particularly if I liked my co-workers.

Well, as Holly Hunter said in Raising Arizona, "We have a child now. Things have cha-aynged!"

Sigh. It could be worse.

Relocation update: I just ordered a free copy of a "Dallas-Fort Worth Relocation Guide". I also subscribed to e-mail alerts from Southwest Airlines in order to get some decent fares to the Metroplex (that's the DFW area, I just learned) when they become available. We would like to go check out the area in the spring and see if we can really picture ourselves living there. Yee-haw!